Disclaimer: Demon Slayer is not mine. This fanfic is a translation.
Enjoy Reading!
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Everyone in the courtyard held their breath and focused on the duel in front of them.
)—Flame Breathing First Form—(
)—Shiranui—(
It is the most basic and the foundation of the Flame Breathing style, and it is also the fastest slash.
Shinjuro had used this move countless times to cleanly and neatly cut off the heads of many demons in his tenure.
Whoosh!
)—Sun Breathing Eleventh Form—(
)—Gen'nichi Kō—(
(tr. Fake Rainbow)
Shinjuro successfully swings his sword and slices through Tanjuro's neck. However, the feeling of emptiness from his hand caused Shinjuro to furrow his brows.
'My sword...'
'...didn't slice anything...and...'
Shinjuro stopped his movement at the last moment of swinging his sword and retracted his step. His eyes widened as he finally saw through the 'Tanjuro' phantom in front of him as it dissipated.
He quickly scanned his surroundings and flared out his senses to locate his opponent.
'It's an afterimage!'
In the next moment,
)—Sun Breathing Ninth Form—(
)—Nichiun no Ryū Kaburimai—(
(tr. Sun Halo Dragon Head Dance)
Swish!
Tap!
Tanjuro's mouth released white steam in a steady stream, appearing behind Shinjuro. The tip of his wooden sword rested comfortably on Shinjuro's neck.
With a slight push, the edge pressed slightly against Shinjuro's carotid artery.
"It's over." Tanjuro has ended the fight in the most energy-saving way he could possibly imagine.
Tanjuro felt his body almost recovered at his peak.
Shinjuro felt the wooden tip pressed on his neck as he stood there in a daze. His clenched sword was trembling slightly.
'I couldn't react at all!'
'One move is all it takes.'
"Haha..."
Shinjuro smiled freely.
"Yes." He slowly stood up from his stance and conceded his defeat.
"...it's over."
With his back to Tanjuro, Shinjuro looked up at the clear blue sky. Strangely, he didn't feel frustrated but relieved.
He took a deep breath and exhaled.
The lump in his heart seemed to disappear slowly at this moment.
The wind blew through, swaying his red hair, and as if to welcome the reborn man, golden light shone from the sky and highlighted the man standing.
"Hahahaha..."
Shinjuro let out a belly laugh, so free and unburdened. The dead look in his eyes finally sparks with an ember of life again.
Tanjuro was slightly taken aback by the bark of laughter from the man in front of him. He put away his wooden sword as he seemed to see the shadow of Kyojuro silhouetted from the current Shinjuro.
Though, it is more accurate to say that the son is really just like his father.
Shinjuro finally turned around, and Tanjuro could see the light of hope burning from his eyes.
"Thank you." Shinjuro sheathed his sword and bowed in honor of the duel, which Tanjuro replicated.
"Daddy!" Hanako makes her presence known as she raises her little hand high from her position in Shinobu's lap, waving happily at her cool daddy.
"Awesome! So Cool!"
Shinobu's expression was... unreadable as she ignored the excited child in her lap.
'Shinjuro-dono... has lost.'
She was not surprised by the loss, but by how easily it was that Tanjuro launched the killing strike and won.
As a Hashira, she could feel Shinjuro's strength may have declined. But it is not so steep that Shinjuro could be beaten in a single move.
She had heard the rumors circling around of Tanjuro defeating the Upper Moon One, but she didn't pay much attention to them.
She was also told by Tanjuro, in one of their conversations, that the rumors really exaggerate what happened.
Shinobu has a certain understanding about the Upper Moon demons' strength. At least, a single Hashira was not enough to defeat an Upper Moon.
But, seeing this duel...
Shinobu focused her gaze at Tanjuro.
The man was smiling and waving back at Hanako, which prompted the girl to get out of Shinobu's lap and run at her father. Shinobu let out a small smile at the sight of the father lifting up his daughter in the air.
"Father!" Kyojuro moved closer to his father's location as his booming voice sounded out. His smile is still as bright as ever. "It seems that your swordsmanship has regressed a little."
"Since you didn't practice anymore!"
Shinjuro twitched in his place and glared at his son. "What are you talking about, you brat?"
"Hahaha!" Kyojuro laughed freely.
Bonk!
...and got a second bump on his head.
On another side,
"...Tanjiro-nii-chan." Takeo squatted on the ground. His eyes furrowed as he recalled what he had just seen, doubt coloring his voice. "Did Father really tell us to pay attention to this...?"
He took a deep breath and huffed frustratingly as if he was pouring out his bitterness.
"I can't see anything!"
The duel was over so fast that one moment he saw the two men standing across from each other, and the next moment they were switching places against each other in a flash.
Tanjiro didn't say anything due to his shock at watching the duel. More specifically, at his father's movement.
'A year ago...'
'I could still follow his two strikes to kill that bear...'
Tanjiro fell into deep thought and self-doubt.
"Nii-chan...?"
"Nii-chan?!"
Seeing Tanjiro didn't respond, Takeo hurried and tried to call his name.
"Tanjiro! Hang in there!"
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-Location: The Woods around the Mansion-
The leaves rustled and swayed as Mitsuri ran through the woods.
"Cheer up! Mitsuri!"
Mitsuri clenched her fist and clapped her cheeks, trying to cheer herself up. She whispered to herself. "You can do it!"
Then she looked up around the forest and saw the endless trees. Her face fell again.
Luckily,
Tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps was near her location.
...
Iguro Obanai was walking on the path made for travelers.
The little white snake coiled around his neck flicked its tongue.
"I know, Kaburamaru." Obanai said in a low voice. "Indeed, Uzui is always an arrogant asshole."
He continued walking and enjoying the time spent with his pet.
When suddenly,
"Heave-ho!"
A pink-haired, clumsy figure stumbled onto the road, jumping out from the grass on the side of the road.
She stood with her back to Obanai and turned her head around as if searching for something.
"Eh?" "Eh?"
Her confusion was obvious as she frantically looked around.
"That's strange... I clearly heard someone talking over here..." Mitsuri said to herself as she scratched her face.
"Could it be... that I misheard?"
Obanai stopped his walk three steps behind Mitsuri.
"Who are you?"
He was puzzled by the appearance of this wild walking sakura tree and prepared to take a detour.
He had always been a loner. He was not equipped to have social interactions with other people.
"Ah! Found you!"
Mitsuri heard the question and turned around and was pleasantly surprised to find the source of the voice. She immediately ran over happily. "Hello there!"
The sunlight filtered through the rustling leaves on the trees.
The girl waved her hand, with a bright smile on her face that was enhanced by the light, and ran toward Obanai. Her pink braids swayed gently in the wind as she shouted to the boy.
"Please wait for me!"
Doki~!
For the first time in his life,
Iguro Obanai's heart skipped a beat in his chest.